Help Encryption and Remote Data Wipe...

[EvoVAlpha]

As I'm seeking advance forgiveness should this thread already exist, I figure it can't hurt to ask as opposed to getting lost within the labyrinth of google... Which is to ask, is the encryption option that comes with Android 4.4.2 KitKat worth it? I'm not talking against gov \ spy \ big biz, but the standard hacker \ thief.

There's the option to encrypt the phone AND the SD card... How many of y'all go for one or the other, or both? Okay, it's not necessary to encrypt your Blake Shelton or Miley Cyrus mp3's or your youtube searches (depending of course), but personal pictures \ text messages \ call logs, is something you may want protected.

I'm also curious about emergency data wipe apps. There are few decent ones I've found that exclusively offer that, the best option being using an all around security \ AV app that has the option to remotely destroy data... Which of course you have to pay for in most cases. So again, if at all, what do you use and or recommend?

Appreciate the hand holding!

 

[Brian706]

I don't personally use the device encryption, in fact my device has forced encryption (it's not an option for me) and I purposely disabled it with a custom kernel. This was a choice I made mainly for performance increase.

As for remote data wipe, I just use Android device manager. It's free and tied to your Google account. You can access it from the web anywhere and remotely lock, wipe, track, etc. your device. It's a security feature that Google offers for free. It works, and I don't see any need to pay for a 3rd party app that does what Android/Google provide for free.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.adm

https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

 

[chanchan05]

I don't use encryption either, but I have Cerberus. I prefer it over Android device manager since it can remote wipe via text message commands.

 

[EvoVAlpha]

@Brian706 - Yeah, never thought of that! Either I was too paranoid at the time and forgot about it or like I said never paid attention. But with the level of access good ole googs has at this point, what's the difference?

@chanchan05 - I'll check that out as well. What I love the most about those apps is that if you take the battery out quick enough and or the SD card, it usually disrupts the wipe process. Now one, that isn't a surprise really considering the limitations of the tech but still something I wish that could be bypassed!

As far as the encryption goes, one of the reasons I'd suppose I'd like to have it is in case of data theft... And not just your phone being stolen from your hand or pocket but remote access \ proximity issues.